Dundee man acquitted of attempted murder jailed for robbing woman of handbag as she walked home from Tesco

A thug who carried out a terrifying robbery on a woman as she walked home has been jailed.

David Stewart, 48, is behind bars after stealing Pamela Hagan’s handbag between South Road, Buttar’s Loan and Ross Gardens last September.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Ms Hagan was walking home from the nearby Tesco Extra, on South Road, when she was attacked by Stewart.

Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan said: “As she entered Ross Gardens, she felt him grab her handbag and pull it, causing her to fall to the ground.

“She tried to hold on to the bag but the accused continued to pull it, and she screamed.”

Stewart pleaded guilty on indictment to assaulting Ms Hagan on September 28 by grabbing her handbag, causing her to fall to the ground, robbing her of the bag and its contents.

Among the items Stewart made off with included a mobile phone, £50 in notes, 5p in coins, two debit cards, nine loyalty cards, a car key, an umbrella, sunglasses, gloves, a box of chocolates and a nail file.

Solicitor Jim Laverty said his client “does not recognise the person who committed the offence”.

The court heard how Stewart was acquitted of attempted murder two years ago over an alleged Christmas Day 2016 knife attack in Stobswell.

Stewart, a prisoner at Perth, was jailed for 14 months by Sheriff Alastair Carmichael.